I remember hearing some stuff about twisted magicians in older editions breaking the foci of other magicians and absorbing their power. How did that work, rules-wise? Was it only a temporary boost to Magic or something? And did it have side effects?

And would it be possible to make a spirit that eats the powers of other spirits?

You may be inaccurately recalling material on the False Face Society from Threats 2, who sometimes incorporated the remains of old foci to reduce the cost of new foci. Or possibly the spirit Thon from the Sega Genesis game, who destroyed magical artifacts to absorb their energies. There was also a reference in Paranormal Animals of Europe that the rituals to summon the Wild Hunt required sacrificing power foci.

Oh... I see... Actually, I never read that chapter of Threats 2, but I did read on the forums that some magicians destroyed foci for power. My bad.

But would a spirit that destroys and eats other spirits be plausible?

Yes. They're called mantids.

How about if you took a free spirit on a metaplanar quest and then had him destroy the spirit at its home? Would it then be able to absorb the other spirit's powers, since it basically just ate its heart?

In your campaign, likely

I do not recall a canon rule concerning "blood magic" equivalents for free spirits, but I´d just say so if my story did require it.

which is just great for the Ordo.

Well, there is that one Adept metamagic.

In order for a spirit to consume another it must have the Energy Drain (Force). However, there is no rule that says only mantids can can't have this power. Mantids just happen to be its most common users.

which always bothered me before... could've sworn something in street magic addressed this...

FRANK! FRAAAAAAAANK!!!!

Misson failed.

"Powdered foci are not magically delicious."

well you could enchant. .. say.. an apple

*muses*wonder if you could make an insect spirit inhabit something besides a metahuman... hafta check on that.

so I guess cannibalize doesn't apply then? too bad, would be interesting, being able to boost attributes or magic. Still, good for vampire conspiracy groups.

I think emo needs to put Frank on Speed-Summon.

All I need is a copy of his formula, and we're good to go.

Why does it have to be canon? If you need it for anything, make it a unique power and be done with it.